Most-commented-on WSB stories of 2014: See who said what

Again this year, we’ve rounded up the year’s most-commented-on WSB stories. These aren’t necessarily the most important stories (many stories are much-read but little-commented), but we always find it an interesting look back; hope you do too!

#11 – 4-mile, 5-hour closure after Highway 99 crash, June 10, 2014 – 121 comments
****Followup note – This much-scrutinized situation was reviewed at City Hall earlier this month; it’s led to changes including more hours of staffing at the city Traffic Management Center.

#10 – SDOT apologies for ‘scumbag hat’ tweet making fun of West Seattle Bridge drivers, May 5, 2014 – 122 comments

#9 – Barton family eviction/protest, July 18, 2014 – 131 comments
****Followup note – Their foreclosure lawsuit is still making its way through the court system at last check.

#8 – West Seattle Health Club officially open, November 4, 2014 – 137 comments

#7 – West Seattle Athletic Club closes; property owner opening WS Health Club, October 25, 2014 – 140 comments
****Followup note on the previous two – The gym’s popular swimming pool has yet to reopen; management says HVAC equipment is still on the way.

#6 – Terrible Beauty closes abruptly, June 9, 2014 – 143 comments
****Followup note – Westside Public House opened in the space last month.

#5 – Transit-funding Proposition 1 voted down, April 22, 2014 – 149 comments
****Follow-up: The same proposal was sent to just Seattle voters in November and passed.

#4 – Helicopter pursuit of LoJack-equipped stolen car leads to suspect’s arrest – January 31, 2014 – 152 comments
****Followup: The man arrested that night, Nicholas Broughton, was sentenced in September to 4+ years in prison.

#3 – Thousands lose power in windstorm, October 25, 2014 – 159 comments

#2 – Bartons removed again, arrested for trespassing, August 15, 2014 – 193 comments

#1 – Trash truck in Arbor Heights blamed for power outage, September 30, 2014 – 230 comments

Want to look even further back? The 2013 WSB list is here; the 2012 list is here; the 2011 list is here. Thank you for all your collaboration and participation again this year – text or call 206-293-6302 any time – and here’s hoping for an exceptional 2015!

JasonG December 31, 2014 (6:46 pm)

I am very tempted to comment on this “story about comments” 231 times in the next 5 hours, to make it the most-commented story of 2014 itself, at which point the universe implodes, right? SO META!

AnneR December 31, 2014 (8:19 pm)

Hopefully the Viaduct doesn’t get shut down and this become a daily occurrence.

RoseM January 2, 2015 (11:49 am)

On December 24th I received a speeding ticket in the mail (Merry Christmas to me). On Roxbury St. at Holy Family, I was cited for traveling at 26 miles per hour in a 20 mph school zone a few days before.

After mentioning it to two friends, one told me that she got a ticket in the exact same spot for traveling 24 mph. Another friend said that he got two tickets (to and from his office) for going 28 and 31 mph in a Capitol Hill school zone. All of us were fined the same amount – a whopping $189!

I accept responsibility for my mistake, but this fine is exorbitant, especially for those of us with a clean driving record. This is so blatantly a money-maker for the city that the ticket itself notes “this infraction will be considered as a parking ticket”. (I guess it could have been worse??!)

The moral of the story is to pay closer attention to the speed limit in school zones – it’s a very expensive mistake. Happy New Year!

RecycleIt January 2, 2015 (1:22 pm)

RoseM, sorry you got a ticket – can you tell me if you recall if the lights were flashing at the time? Renton used to give tickets in school zones at any time school is in session regardless if any child was in view or if there were lights on. Why they expect drivers to know school hours is beyond me. Maybe if they put the price of the fine on the signs, people would be more careful. My pet peeve is people cutting across the gore-point – I think that one is $411. ;-)

RecycleIt January 2, 2015 (1:34 pm)

Regarding story #10, SDOT’s tweet: I must be going nuts (don’t answer that), but I thought that the tweet that accompanied the image referred to the drivers as “asshats” – not “scumbags.” Was there a SDOT tweet to that effect? I guess I’m wrong, but that is what is stuck in my head. (Apology or no, IMHO it still reflects SDOT’s attitude towards all drivers.)

WSB January 2, 2015 (1:38 pm)

No, there wasn’t. It was “scumbag hats.” (The tweet itself is embedded in the story, featuring the “graphic” of the “hats” drawn over the traffic-cam image, if you follow the link.)

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